Spencer woman, 23, found dead in car pulled from pond

SPENCER — Police are investigating the death of a 23-year-old Spencer woman whose submerged Subaru wagon was pulled from a pond Tuesday afternoon near Andrews Farm on Paxton Road.

The vehicle, which was overturned with its tires partially exposed above the water's surface, was discovered late Tuesday morning. Officials from the medical examiner's office and dive teams from North Brookfield and Leicester were dispatched to the pond. State police were called about 11:15 a.m. The 2009 Subaru Outback was recovered from the pond at mid-afternoon.

Police and firefighters determined the woman was dead.

The cause of the crash was under investigation by Troop C of the Massachusetts State Police with the assistance of the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and Crime Scene Services Section.

No information was released on how long the vehicle may have been in the water. Police did not release the woman's name.

According to a log in the Spencer Police Department, a woman called about 10:15 p.m. Monday and reported her daughter, a resident of Paxton Road, was missing. Spencer police would not comment and referred questions to the state police.

Todd Pontbriand, who lives in the neighborhood and said he often travels the road, said he stopped by to see what was going on.

“I came through about 5:30 yesterday (Monday) morning,” he said. “It was sanded and salted. I came through again on my way home from work about 3, 3:30 and it was down to pavement.”

Paxton Road near Andrews Farm is one lane in each direction, and the speed limit is 30 mph. There are some hilly areas.

The submerged vehicle was difficult to see in the icy pond Tuesday before it was pulled out. Some neighbors who had traveled the road Monday or Tuesday said they had not seen the vehicle.

“I'm thinking somebody came down that hill that way and spun out,” Mr. Pontbriand said.

The pond, a few feet from the road and down a short hill, is very small and had a fire hydrant in it.